Sunday, May 31, 2009

Course Spotlight: Blue Ribbon Pines Disc Golf Club

The time has come for a course review, "up in this place." I recently had the opportunity to play a course that we in this blog world have talked about playing for a long time. No it's not a Hybridge course seeing that's in Wisconsin. It happens to be a course that is located about thirty minutes north of the cities off of Hwy 65 in East Bethel, MN. Believe it or not it is located on a sod farm. So the grass is greener than a golf course in Nevada. Let me just say it's nice. Ladies and Gentleman I give you:
Yes, beautiful BLUE RIBBON PINES DISC GOLF CLUB. Here is a few lovely facts provided by ( http://blueribbonpines.net/ )Check it out for yourself

Facts:
Course was established in 2006.
This course has 27 holes for a par of 88
Pay to Play $5 to play all day long. IT'S WORTH IT!

Opinion: at a glance:
*I only played one round.
*Next time it's gonna be a day trip.
*Bring a Snack lunch and some liquids be it dew or an ale of some sort. (my suggestion is gatorade) cause your gonna need it.
*Don't let the idea that the Minnesota Majestic is played here to be the deciding factor that you aren't good enough to play it. Big missconception. The course is very playable to the average player.

I've seen some people break down the course by holes and give you their opinion on it. I could do that but I'm not for a couple of reasons which you can already guess. Yep 27 holes. That should say it. So I will give you some of my highlights.

Highlights/Review:

Saturday May 9th was the day, and about 9AM in the morning. I got word of some friends from Bethel were embarking to play at Blue Ribbon Pines or BRP from here on out. I was pumped to hear that some of my friends were going to play this that I had to invite myself along. So I did. I brought along my roommate Danny D for the occasion too. As we were driving there my stomach began to get very tense and nervous.

After stepping inside the clubhouse and seeing that it's setup just like a regular ball golf course with a small pro shop, cash register, food and beverages. I began to settle down a bit. My group consisted of eight players split up into two groups for speeds sake. Which allowed us to move at a steady "non-rushed" pace. (Oh and nobody ever begins to play a hole when you are playing...the respect you there)

Here's My Score for the Round I played:
Par 88
King 100


It's was a great course to experience. Lots of technical holes that are very parable if you play controlled and think one shot ahead. I believe it's called course management.

Well if you want more info call me and let's go play it. I heard they re-worked a few holes and they are amazing.

Until then....

the King is out on the course

Thursday, May 21, 2009

An attempt to keep my integrity while Disc Golfing


This year, like any other year I always say I am not keeping score till May. I do that for a few different reasons. First is because I haven't probably played the game since the preceding October or November (if we were lucky). Second, because I just don't want to know my scores because they are so bad. I use March and April as a sort of "Spring Training" for lack of a disc golf term. To get my arm and mind back in the disc golfing mentality. I work on making consistent throws. Good or bad. Hopefully for the good. I work on mentally thinking about my next shot before I step up to throw. And ultimately not losing a disc is on my mind. Just lay it up close for a Par...the birdies will come soon enough. When ever the putting arrives. (usually about October or November). So In doing so..it has been May now for about 21 days. I have played a total of three official scoring rounds on three different courses and have done fairly well. The scores don't reflect it but I feel I have. Here are my scores (Don't laugh)

Bethel University
(Arden Hills, MN)
Date Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Total
Par Yellow 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 27
5.9.09
3 3 2 4 5 3 6 3 2 31




























Blue Ribbon Pines, (East Bethel, MN)


















Date Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 Total
Par 2009 3 3 3 4 4 4 3 3 3 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 3 88
5.9.09
3 3 5 7 3 3 5 3 2 3 5 3 4 3 4 4 4 3 5 4 2 3 4 3 4 5 3 100

Hopefully, this will keep me honest this summer. Not that I have or will be a lier but I think this will help me become a better Disc Golfer.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Missionary work for Disc Golf

I have felt that it is a calling for the disc golf community to create new disciples. We must introduce them to the game, help to lead them past the early issues of the developing disc golfer, and eventually create a new convert who can, in turn, create other new disc golfers.
It may be lame to create such a comparison to organuzed religion, but it draws from the truth.

One of my new friends in Marshall, Kyle, has recently been introduced to the game by my suggestion. We played on the course at SMSU and shared my discs. I tried to keep him to the midrange discs but also let him have a go with the drivers to see how they work (even when they aren't thrown properly). Well... he has become a full blown addict! Kyle played the last 4 days in a row, bought 5 discs the day after we played, and has been loving it. Activites have included playing rounds of disc golf, driving range in an open field, and perusing the wonders of http://www.innovadiscs.com/.

His conversion reminds me of another friend from the cities to whom I shared the good news of disc golf. His name is Danny and he is easily a better disc golfer than me and was so after a few months. Not to be selfish, but I hope in that regard we don't have a repeat conversion experience.

URBWes